I am trying to learn to mig weld aluminum, but I am not having much luck.. I cant really get a bead started and it looks terible...

I just want to see if anyone has any tips, or experiances to share

 

You got the right gas for it?

MIG'd aluminum works prety well, but you usually need a $$$ spool gun to keep the aluminum wire from birdsnesting. Holding the feed line as straight as possible coming out of the welder can help.

Also, is the aluminum properly cleaned and prepped?

Ali is a bit of a PITA to work with, it takes time to learn.

 

buy a spool gun.

 

indeed, you need the right gas.. what 100% argon, and a spool gun, a buddy at work has a real nice setup with a mig.

jeff

 

Yeah, you definately need a wire spool type welder. Where I work we have a nice aluminum that I could check out for you if you want. It takes alot of practice to get the welds to come out nice too. Some of the welders where I work have a technique where they move the tip in small circular motions as their welding. Try it out. The weld should look like a neatly ------ out roll of coins if done properly. Good luck

 

I cant afford a spool gun, but I kept the line straight and the wire didnt bind at all... my welder is a lincoln, and they sell a aluminum gun that isnt a spool (I think it just has a plastic liner instead of metal), but I figure if my wire didnt bind I prolly didnt need it...

as far as prep, I got a new stainless brush and only brushed it one way.. that was the only tip I had that didnt involve chemical preping...

as far as gas goes, I was still using an argon/co2 mix (same as for steel) I knew it wasnt optimum, but I thought I might be able to still use it.. it is 75% argon vs 100% (I think)... is the gas the important key that I am missing?

 

I think that setup should be good for you...ya just need to remember to keep it at the lowest heat setting that you can...



Mike

 

The gas is very important, I hve tried to finish up a small job with CO2 argon mix and it just didnt work right. Also get the right wire for the thickness of aluminum you are welding, if it is thin get the thinnest wire possible, I use .30 wire on intercoolers and charge pipes. Feed speed is very important also, too fast and you dont get a good penitration, just a big tall ugly bead, to slow and you burn threw with a lot of splater.

 

ok thanks... do you use 100% argon or do you use the 25% argon/75%helium mix?

 

so what mix do you use? 100 argon or argon/heli?